Indigenous leadership, community-driven solutions in BC's Central Interior
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In the Central Interior of BC, ancient forests, winding rivers, and rolling hills have nurtured thriving ecosystems and sustained Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. For countless seasons, this region has been home, provider, and teacher. Yet over the last century, industrial activity has carved roads and cleared forests, diminishing the region’s rich biodiversity and weakening its natural resilience to climate change.
This is why we are launching the Climate Resilience Network for BC’s Central Interior, an initiative designed to catalyze the power of local communities as they reclaim their role as stewards of the region’s waters and lands. The network will help create new partnerships and rediscover ones from the past. It will foster shared knowledge and tools, promote the pooling of capacity and resources, and bring together unlikely allies who, despite their differences, share a desire to sustain and revitalize the ecological and economic heart of British Columbia.
Under the guidance of Indigenous communities whose territories span the Central Interior region, the initiative will grow as an expression of their values, rights, and visions for the future. It will also create space for collaboration across diverse political, cultural, social, and economic interests—both Indigenous and settler—which need to be part of any lasting solution.
Over the next five years, the Climate Resilience Network will:
- Build and strengthen relationships among the region’s forest-based communities.
- Conduct regional analyses to identify and protect natural ecosystems at multiple scales.
- Support Indigenous and rural communities with visioning, land-use planning, facilitation, and access to funding.
- Co-create economic futures scenarios that explore viable, community-led transition pathways away from primary forest logging and toward land stewardship that supports biodiversity, climate resilience, and local well-being.
Through thoughtful analysis, visionary planning, and protection of the region’s life-giving forests and waterways, we're going to prove it’s possible for communities to care for this region’s natural ecosystems in accordance with their deepest cultural, ecological, and economic values.
This work is rooted in the belief that the people who live closest to the land are best positioned to protect it. We’re honoured to walk alongside them
New and Noteworthy
We’re happy to announce the North Coast Food Hub, a collaborative new initiative based on Ts'msyen territory, in Prince Rupert, BC. Rooted in a school-centred approach, the Food Hub will increase access to fresh, local food through greenhouse food production, educational programming, a weekly market, and an improved local distribution network. This project supports a more resilient and just food system, grounded in local knowledge and community priorities.
The North Coast Food Hub responds to the urgent need to address food insecurity in a region facing the highest child poverty rate in British Columbia (22.7%) and significant barriers to local food production. Despite being a coastal community, Prince Rupert’s access to fresh, healthy, and locally harvested food is limited by a complex supply chain, corporate control of fisheries, and the closure of local processing infrastructure. The Food Hub offers a community-led response grounded in place, partnership, and the principles of food justice and Indigenous food sovereignty.
With the North Coast Food Hub, we’re working alongside First Nations partners, local organizations, and schools to reclaim and rebuild local food solutions. Together, we’re creating pathways for Indigenous food sovereignty, climate resilience, and economic opportunity—rooted in local knowledge and collective leadership. We'll share more details this summer.
This project is made possible with funding from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and facilitation from the Public Health Association of British Columbia and Food Banks BC. Learn more here.
Early this month, our Food Systems team and our Director of Programs and Impact, Jenn Meilleur (not pictured above), attended the International Seaweed Symposium in Victoria, BC. They learned about global trends in seaweed forest health, advancements in cultivation techniques, and the importance of rural, remote, and Indigenous perspectives in reshaping the blue economy.
The team gained insights into how seaweeds respond to climate change and new underwater monitoring technologies. They've returned to Prince Rupert with an expanded network of experts and new collaboration opportunities, bringing renewed enthusiasm to their regenerative ocean farming work with Metlakatla First Nation and surrounding communities.
On May 27, we brought together policymakers and experts to envision an end to energy insecurity in Canada. Participants collaborated on exploring the policies, actions, and initiatives that require the most attention to ensure that everyone has access to clean, affordable energy and safe, climate-resilient homes. We’ll tell you more in a future blog post!
We're Hiring!
- Community Food and Greenhouse Coordinator: Lead school- and community-based food growing and programming efforts, with a special focus on building relationships with Indigenous communities and coordinating culturally relevant garden programming.
- Summer Opportunities (8-week positions through Canada Summer Jobs):
- Community Engagement and Research Intern: Connect directly with communities while building valuable research skills.
- Greenhouse and Garden Assistant Summer Student Position: Hands-on experience in greenhouse setup, food growing, greenhouse care, and community-based food programming.
30 Years of Proving the Possible
A series of reflections from our past three decades of work.
2010-present
Since 2010, Ecotrust Canada has served a unique role as a federally designated fisheries monitoring organization. This designation allows us to work with fishing communities up and down the BC coast, where we provide at-sea and dockside monitoring and training. Our clients include the T'aaq-wiihak Fishery in Nuu-chah-nulth territory on the west coast of Vancouver Island and fish harvesters in Coast Ts’msyen territory on the North Coast of BC. Our work is designed to ensure the ongoing sustainability of fisheries while also supporting the marine stewardship and cultural objectives of these communities.
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Proving the Possible
Ecotrust Canada works with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities toward building an economy that provides for a healthy and resilient natural environment; sustainable and abundant energy, food, and housing; prosperous and meaningful livelihoods; and vibrant cultures and inclusive societies. We call this approach, building an economy that provides for life.
Thank you for your continued support!
The Ecotrust Canada Team
